FLORIDA

Principal Investigator Biographies

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Addiction

Scott D. Segal, MD, CEO is co-founder of Segal Institute for Clinical Research and founder of Compass Health Systems, the largest provider of mental health services in South Florida. He has conducted over 220 Phase I-IV clinical trials in outpatient, inpatient and nursing home facilities.

Dr. Segal attended an accelerated biomedical program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before entering the Albany Medical College and receiving his medical doctor degree. He completed his residency and internship in psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His post-residency training included a two-year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry, also at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and has since received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami. Dr. Segal is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a member in good standing of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

Dr. Segal has an extensive background in psychodynamic psychotherapy, pain management, psychopharmacology, addiction medicine (including substance abuse), and eating disorders, as well as the evaluation and treatment of child and adolescent disorders. He has served as the medical director of several hospitals and treatment facilities and has developed innovative delivery systems that improve heath care quality and lower costs. He serves as a consultant to many hospitals, group practices, and behavioral health organizations. He currently serves as the medical director of Atlantic Shores Hospital and sits on advisory boards of several area hospitals and insurance companies. Dr. Segal's research is conducted throughout South Florida in Segal Institute's North Miami, Hollywood, and East Ft. Lauderdale site locations.

Dr. Segal specializes in most areas of Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric CNS and Addiction research.

Dr. Ventre began his studies at the University of Puerto Rico, earning a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology and Science. He continued his medical studies at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and ultimately earned his medical degree at Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He completed his residencies at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Cabrini Medical Center for Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, and most recently at the University of Florida Psychiatry Program.

Dr. Ventre is a dedicated Principal Investigator at Segal Institute for Clinical Research's offices in West Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Ventre maintains a very active outpatient practice with Compass Health Systems. He treats most psychiatric disorders in pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics. Dr. Ventre is fully bilingual and successfully conducts his studies in both Spanish and English.

Dr. Flaherty has been with Segal Institute for Clinical Research since 2002. He has a great deal of experience as a clinical research investigator for Segal Institute, and has conducted over 150 clinical trials. Dr. Flaherty completed his training at the University of Iowa Hospital. In addition to his work in clinical research, Dr. Flaherty maintains an extremely active outpatient and inpatient practice.

Dr. Flaherty specializes in most areas of Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric CNS and Addiction research.

Dr. Gomez is instrumental in his role as Investigator for Segal Institute for Clinical Research at its North Miami location. Dr. Gomez completed his medical education at the University of Florida, College of Medicine in Adult Psychiatry. He completed his residencies at University of South Alabama with rotations in emergency Psychiatry, Neurology, & Inpatient Forensics. Dr. Gomez specializes in Autism & Adolescent Addiction. He maintains an active outpatient practice with Compass Health Systems. Dr. Gomez is fully bilingual and successfully conducts his studies in both Spanish and English.

Dr. Lapeyra serves as an Investigator for a number of inpatient and outpatient trials for Segal Institute, in addition to providing her services to a growing inpatient practice with Compass Health Systems. Dr. Lapeyra earned her medical degree at Universidad Central del Este in the Dominican Republic and completed her International Post Graduate Mini Residency and Internship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Lapeyra participated in Miami Veterans Administration PTSD Program "Adjunctive Risperidone Treatment in Combat Veterans with Chronic PTSD." Dr. Lapeyra is fully bilingual and successfully conducts her studies in both Spanish and English.

Dr. Sobhan has conducted over 15 Phase I-III clinical trials in inpatient and outpatient facilities. Dr. Sobhan began his medical training in Dhoka, Bangladesh, and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

Dr. Sobhan has served as Chief of Staff at the University of Alabama, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Director at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE. He has received many accolades, including an Excellence in Research Award for developing the clinical research protocol on oxcarbazepine for the treatment of bipolar disorders. Currently, Dr. Sobhan keeps a full schedule as an active Investigator; he rounds numerous inpatient facilities, as well as a growing roster of patients at Compass Health Systems' Boynton Beach outpatient office.

Dr. Pushka began his medical training at Ivan-Frankovsky Medical Institute in the Ukraine, and completed his training there in 1980. He served as an attending physician at the Kiev Center Psychiatric Hospital and Kiev City Hospital.

Dr. Pushka came to the United States in 2004, and completed his psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program at Drexel University College of Medicine, in Philadelphia. He joined Segal Institute in 2005, where he serves as an investigator on outpatient and inpatient clinical trials. Dr. Pushka has an extensive inpatient practice at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Pushka has also been recognized as the "Most Valuable Physician" as voted by his peers and patients at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. Dr. Pushka is fully trilingual in Russian, Ukrainian, and English.

Women's Health and General Medicine

Dr. Chavoustie is a native of Miami, Florida and graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor's in Science degree in chemistry. He attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed his residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology. He was also the administrative chief resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In 1987, he was appointed diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Chavoustie holds a dual appointment at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine both as Voluntary Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and in medical education. He teaches clinical skills, provides didactic lectures in obstetrics and gynecology, and directs the clinical pelvic and breast exam module for all second year medical students. He has been voted one of the "Best Teachers" by the medical students 5 times during the past 7 years.

Dr. Chavoustie is the medical director of a non-profit organization called "Medical Students in Action" that offers medical care and education to the underserved communities in the rural areas of the Dominican Republic. He travels yearly with his medical students where he evaluates and treats over 900 patients per week for most medical conditions. Dr. Chavoustie joined Segal Institute as an Investigator in 2007. He has conducted and is currently conducting clinical trials in most women's health conditions and several trials in general medicine.

Dr. Hegedosh is an integral component in Segal Institute's Women's Health and General Medicine division. Dr. Hegedosh has served as an Investigator for over 20 Phase I-IV inpatient, outpatient, and nursing home clinical trials. Additionally, she practices internal medicine with Compass Health Systems.

Dr. Hegedosh began her journey at the MD State University, Uzhorod Medical in Ukraine, Russia. She completed her residency at New York College at St. Joseph's Hospital and at Drexel University College of Medicine at Graduate Hospital. Dr. Hegedosh owned a private practice in Philadelphia, PA for 2 years prior to relocating to Miami, FL. Dr. Hegedosh is multilingual in 6 different languages, including English, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Croatian, and Hungarian.